Cruise from the medieval village of Alvechurch with its pretty half-timbered houses.

DAY 1

Once setting off from Alvechurch, you soon leave the traffic behind and cruise through lovely Worcestershire countryside to your 1st Tunnel at Wast Hills which at 2726 yards is one of the longest in the country!

For your 1st nights stop it is nice to cruise for an hour to Hopwood & then stop by Bridge 67 where there is a convenient pub - The Hopwood House, by the Canal.

DAY 2

Continuing on through the Tunnel, for those with children you might want to stop at the visitor moorings at Bournville,which is 1 mile north of the Kings Norton Junction (booking is advisable Tel. 0121 451 4159).It is signposted from the canal. There is an exhibition dedicated to the history of chocolate, audio visual displays, Victorian Birmingham & a Jungle to explore!

About 3 miles later you arrive at the Gas Street basin which is in the heart of Birmingham's canal network, and has been redeveloped into a unique experience where traditional narrow boats moor up next to cosmopolitan cafes and bars. The surrounding area is a vibrant arts & entertainment area and there are many shopping options within a short walk.

Amongst some of the attractions are the National Sea Life Centre (https://www.visitsealife.com/birmingham/), & the Jewellery Quarter Discovery centre, also many fine Art galleries and over 500 restaurants offering every choice of food!

For shopping a visit to the new Bullring is a must, which covers an area the size of 26 football pitches and a has a huge range of shops.

Close by is the national Indoor Arena, one of the busiest large scale indoor sporting & entertainment venues in Europe.

Total cruising hours from Alvechurch to Gas Street basin is 4 ¾ hours.

DAY 3

From the Gas Street basin, cruise up to the Deep cuttings Junction & turn right where you will soon encounter your first locks as you begin your descent from Birmingham, the flight of 13 locks at Farmers bridge.

Turn right at the Digibeth Branch, the Ashted Flight drops through 6 locks, and then left onto the Grand Union Canal. At the Bordesley Junction keep straight on, do not turn left. There are 5 locks at Camp Hill.

A short walk south west of Bridge 88 is the Birmingham Railway Museum, located over 7 acres on the site of a former Great Western Railway steam shed. There are 12 Steam locomotives, a Royal Mail van, a 1908 Royal saloon car and lots of steam railway paraphernalia.

By bridge 84 there is a useful stores.

Cruise on to Catherine de Barnes, a small village in the first countryside you will have seen for a day or so. There are stores and a nice pub here.

Total cruising time to here is 8 ½ hours

DAY 4

Cruise down the very rural Grand Union Canal on its peaceful route southwards, passing through the 5 wide locks at Knowle until you reach the Kingswood Junction where you turn right and right again onto the Stratford upon Avon canal.

You now negotiate an uphill stretch of 18 locks- the Lapworth Flight which takes you up to Hockley Heath.

Packwood House, a National trust property is to the north of Bridge 31. It is a timber framed Tudor House dating from the late 16th century.

Moor up for the night at Hockley Heath, there is a pub and stores here.

Cruising time to here 8 ¾ hours

DAY 5

Cruise from Hockley Heath along the Stratford upon Avon Canal to Kings Norton Junction. At Kings Norton Junction, turn left, very soon you will go through Wast Hills Tunnel which at 2726 yards is one of the longest in the country! An hour or so later you will arrive back at Alvechurch marina.